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Nightmare Country
The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country
Return to the world of Neil Gaiman’s seminal epic The Sandman , in a new series starring fan-favorite character the Corinthian, and written by horror comics superstar James Tynion IV!
Sometimes, Nightmares walk the Earth.
Dream of the Endless is the unquestioned lord of all that happens when we sleep—including his most solemn duty, the creation of nightmares. It was his hand that formed the Corinthian, patron saint of serial murder, whose ravenous mouths have tasted the blood of sleepers for centuries. Once, years ago, the Corinthian escaped the Dreaming and entered the waking world—and the body count was vast. Dream eventually put that injustice to rights and un-created the Corinthian, remaking him as a more pliable nightmare, and bringing him back to his appointed task.
But now a new nightmare has escaped into the “real” world. Art student Madison Flynn sees this “Smiling Man” in her waking hours…and she’s not alone. What’s more, this monster is somehow, improbably, impossibly, a nightmare that Dream of the Endless did not create. And when he realizes this fact, the Corinthian will slip once more onto our plane and start a hunt for this mockery… but heaven help us all when his memories of his past hunts begin to return!
Megahit New York Times bestselling horror writer James Tynion IV ( Batman , Something Is Killing the Children , The Department of Truth ) joins with artist Lisandro Estherren ( Redneck , Strange Skies Over East Berlin ) and an array of superstar guests to expand the legendary world of The Sandman and chronicle a terrifying descent into America’s uncontrolled id, where outsider artists, gruesome “collectors,” billionaire prophets, and homegrown angels merge their minds to give birth to a wholly new—and wholly horrific—American dream! Collects The Sandman Nightmare Country #1-6.
Sometimes, Nightmares walk the Earth.
Dream of the Endless is the unquestioned lord of all that happens when we sleep—including his most solemn duty, the creation of nightmares. It was his hand that formed the Corinthian, patron saint of serial murder, whose ravenous mouths have tasted the blood of sleepers for centuries. Once, years ago, the Corinthian escaped the Dreaming and entered the waking world—and the body count was vast. Dream eventually put that injustice to rights and un-created the Corinthian, remaking him as a more pliable nightmare, and bringing him back to his appointed task.
But now a new nightmare has escaped into the “real” world. Art student Madison Flynn sees this “Smiling Man” in her waking hours…and she’s not alone. What’s more, this monster is somehow, improbably, impossibly, a nightmare that Dream of the Endless did not create. And when he realizes this fact, the Corinthian will slip once more onto our plane and start a hunt for this mockery… but heaven help us all when his memories of his past hunts begin to return!
Megahit New York Times bestselling horror writer James Tynion IV ( Batman , Something Is Killing the Children , The Department of Truth ) joins with artist Lisandro Estherren ( Redneck , Strange Skies Over East Berlin ) and an array of superstar guests to expand the legendary world of The Sandman and chronicle a terrifying descent into America’s uncontrolled id, where outsider artists, gruesome “collectors,” billionaire prophets, and homegrown angels merge their minds to give birth to a wholly new—and wholly horrific—American dream! Collects The Sandman Nightmare Country #1-6.
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2023
32 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
James Tynion IV
1,643 books1,987 followersPrior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
October 4, 2023
Pretty good.
I'm seeing some mixed reviews for this but I personally enjoyed it. You can definitely tell it's James Tynion writing it, though.
It's got that weird artsy youth in a horror movie thing going on that signals (to me) he's behind the story.
Ok. As you can tell from the cover, this one revolves around The Corinthian. An art student in college (weird artsy youth) hasn't dreamed for years. However, she sees this fat blob that has mouths for eyes at random times during her day. Just hanging out, licking his eyelids like a Jabba the Hutt crossed with a toad kind of nightmare.
Meanwhile, the new version of The Corinthian gets off looking at things in the Dreaming's library about his old incarnation. So.
How do these two characters intersect with each other?
Needless to say, things happen. Creepy nightmare creatures, angels, and others show up to get the plot moving along and give a few nods to Gaiman's old characters while they are at it.
I wasn't blown out of the water, but this is one that I'll keep reading.
Recommended for fans of Tynion's horror comics.
I'm seeing some mixed reviews for this but I personally enjoyed it. You can definitely tell it's James Tynion writing it, though.
It's got that weird artsy youth in a horror movie thing going on that signals (to me) he's behind the story.
Ok. As you can tell from the cover, this one revolves around The Corinthian. An art student in college (weird artsy youth) hasn't dreamed for years. However, she sees this fat blob that has mouths for eyes at random times during her day. Just hanging out, licking his eyelids like a Jabba the Hutt crossed with a toad kind of nightmare.
Meanwhile, the new version of The Corinthian gets off looking at things in the Dreaming's library about his old incarnation. So.
How do these two characters intersect with each other?
Needless to say, things happen. Creepy nightmare creatures, angels, and others show up to get the plot moving along and give a few nods to Gaiman's old characters while they are at it.
I wasn't blown out of the water, but this is one that I'll keep reading.
Recommended for fans of Tynion's horror comics.
June 24, 2023
Great stuff.
Basically our favorite serial killer is back, Corinthian, and he wants to find out what's happening with a girl named Madison when she draws a man with teeth as eyes...which would be the Corinthian. This leads him to try and figure out what's happening but two others, Mr. Agony and Ecstasy come in to try and murder her. Leading through a bloody good time.
The first 5 issues cover the main story. Corinthian always was a interesting character to me and kind of a sad one created by Dreaming and also dismantled by him too after he started killing. This leads to a new version of the character but a even more interesting one. Madison is a strong and fun lead and her ending is only the start. I will say the issue 6 feels disjointed and a bit too meta but the ending does set up something interesting.
A 4 out of 5.
Basically our favorite serial killer is back, Corinthian, and he wants to find out what's happening with a girl named Madison when she draws a man with teeth as eyes...which would be the Corinthian. This leads him to try and figure out what's happening but two others, Mr. Agony and Ecstasy come in to try and murder her. Leading through a bloody good time.
The first 5 issues cover the main story. Corinthian always was a interesting character to me and kind of a sad one created by Dreaming and also dismantled by him too after he started killing. This leads to a new version of the character but a even more interesting one. Madison is a strong and fun lead and her ending is only the start. I will say the issue 6 feels disjointed and a bit too meta but the ending does set up something interesting.
A 4 out of 5.
July 29, 2023
It's been quite some time since I read any of the original Sandman Universe volumes by Neil Gaiman, and some of the more recent re-visits seemed to have missed the mark. Still, I don't remember Sandman as horrific as SANDMAN UNIVERSE: NIGHTMARE COUNTRY comes across. However, this series comes closer to recreating that sense of wonder and awe I felt while reading Gaiman's original stories many years ago.
In fact, in the foreword by James Tynion IV he mentions how important the Sandman series has been to developing his writing and creativity. "You can see its DNA in each of my comics projects."
He says it is the single most important reason he made the decision to work in comics.
However, rather than write a copycat version of Sandman or a pure homage, Tynion has pulled the more horrifc elements from those works and further enhanced and developed them in NIGHTMARE COUNTRY. While SANDMAN was a series that straddled several genres, NIGHTMARE COUNTRY is a tale of horror and dark fantasy, two genres that Tynion excels at. Based on the number of two-star reviews on Goodreads I'm sure that several readers will disagree with my assessment. But I'm being purely subjective, and this series pushes all the right buttons for me.
Tynion resurrects minor character The Corinthian and builds a backstory where he walked the Earth in the 1920's as a vicious serial killer before being returned to The Dreaming and having his memory wiped. Now, art student Madison Flynn sees the presence of a "smiling man"(with teeth for eyes) first in her dreams and now in her waking hours. With the threat of a new series of Corinthian-like murders occurring, The Corinthian leaves the Dreaming and enters our plane of existence in order to hunt down the copycat.
Every issue of this opening round features a short story within the main story that explores further the background of The Corinthian and other aspects of the story. The art throughout by Lisandro Estherren is both creepy and evocative. Guest artists illustrate the mini-stories and the choices of creators is excellent. The hardcover edition on heavier, quality paper is a great presentation.
Tynion introduces two new characters in the chilling lackeys Mr. Agony and Mr. Ecstacy, two oddballs that remind me of Clive Barker's Cenobites as well as the creepy hit men in the James Bond DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER film. Issue Six is an interlude in the story, where a writer, with a striking resemblance in both name and appearance to Tynion, meets beautiful neighbor Lamia and is pulled into a sorceress-like ritual.
I'm impressed by this introduction, which may disappoint many readers because there is no specific resolution. It's an important set-up volume. Gaiman didn't build the entirety of The Sandman Universe in the opening stories but across 75 issues. Tynion is obviously building something perhaps equally awe-inspiring here. I look forward to reading Volume Two.
In fact, in the foreword by James Tynion IV he mentions how important the Sandman series has been to developing his writing and creativity. "You can see its DNA in each of my comics projects."
He says it is the single most important reason he made the decision to work in comics.
However, rather than write a copycat version of Sandman or a pure homage, Tynion has pulled the more horrifc elements from those works and further enhanced and developed them in NIGHTMARE COUNTRY. While SANDMAN was a series that straddled several genres, NIGHTMARE COUNTRY is a tale of horror and dark fantasy, two genres that Tynion excels at. Based on the number of two-star reviews on Goodreads I'm sure that several readers will disagree with my assessment. But I'm being purely subjective, and this series pushes all the right buttons for me.
Tynion resurrects minor character The Corinthian and builds a backstory where he walked the Earth in the 1920's as a vicious serial killer before being returned to The Dreaming and having his memory wiped. Now, art student Madison Flynn sees the presence of a "smiling man"(with teeth for eyes) first in her dreams and now in her waking hours. With the threat of a new series of Corinthian-like murders occurring, The Corinthian leaves the Dreaming and enters our plane of existence in order to hunt down the copycat.
Every issue of this opening round features a short story within the main story that explores further the background of The Corinthian and other aspects of the story. The art throughout by Lisandro Estherren is both creepy and evocative. Guest artists illustrate the mini-stories and the choices of creators is excellent. The hardcover edition on heavier, quality paper is a great presentation.
Tynion introduces two new characters in the chilling lackeys Mr. Agony and Mr. Ecstacy, two oddballs that remind me of Clive Barker's Cenobites as well as the creepy hit men in the James Bond DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER film. Issue Six is an interlude in the story, where a writer, with a striking resemblance in both name and appearance to Tynion, meets beautiful neighbor Lamia and is pulled into a sorceress-like ritual.
I'm impressed by this introduction, which may disappoint many readers because there is no specific resolution. It's an important set-up volume. Gaiman didn't build the entirety of The Sandman Universe in the opening stories but across 75 issues. Tynion is obviously building something perhaps equally awe-inspiring here. I look forward to reading Volume Two.
October 26, 2022
My biggest disappointment of the year. High were my expectations when a writer I generally appreciate announced he would tackle my favorite comic property. Unfortunately though, this story is very poorly written, no one acts with any clear motivation, you never know why the moving parts do what they do, too much is missing from the script. The story doesn’t end, there is no ending here, NONE! Issue 6 reads like an intermission with a new POV and different artist and acts completely independant of the first 5 that receive no closure at all. I’m so annoyed, bleh!
January 30, 2024
Outro quadrinho que enrolei bastante para ler foi País dos Pesadelos. Apesar de ser escrito por James Tynion IV, a capa dele estampava uma bandeirona dos Estados Unidos, e pensei que seria mais um daqueles quadrinhos ufanistas estadunidenses. Mas nem tem nada disso, no máximo um perverso político corrupto republicano que coleciona sobras de crime. A trama gira em torno de uma garota que enxerga um monstro que tem a boca no lugar dos olhos, mas que não é o famoso pesadelo Coríntio das páginas de Sandman. Esse fato instiga o próprio Coríntio a descobrir quem é esse concorrente o que vai levar ele e a garota em uma trilha de morte e destruição. Toda edição conta com um desenhista convidado para contar backgrounds de diversos personagens. Apesar de termos um quadrinho muito bem feito em roteiro e arte, ele tem um senão. A história não acaba neste volume e, até então, mesmo nos Estados Unidos, a DC Comics ainda não anunciou uma continuação para as seis edições presentes neste encadernado.
April 14, 2023
Let me preface my thoughts on this book by stating that last time someone other than Neil Gaiman wrote stories about the Corinthian for several story arcs in the spin-off series, The Dreaming, I was slightly disappointed with Caitlin R. Kiernan and the new direction she took with the introduction of Echo. Because of this, despite the fact that I've really enjoyed several other series by Tynion (namely The Department of Truth, Something is Killing the Children, The Nice House on the Lake, and The Closet), I approached Nightmare Country with heavily guarded optimism that an author I loved would do right by another author we both loved (Tynion's intro clearly states that Gaiman's Sandman was the most influential comic that made him want to tell stories in comics). That said, I think the fact that Tynion chose to expand on and reference the story of Philip Sitz and Chaste magazine, a character from the Sandman issue The Collectors, worked well for me. Likewise, the reverent re-use of Morpheus' speech from the end of that issue only cements my belief that Tynion has a love for these characters and this dark mythos. All that said, this story is only just getting started. In this volume of Nightmare Country we are introduced to Madison Flynn, a young artist whose art is fixated on images of the Smiling Man, a monstrous figure with teeth for eyes, who in turn attracts the attention of the original nightmare with teeth for eyes, the second incarnation of the Corinthian. We learn just a little about the men that are hunting Flynn down, Mr. Agony and Mr. Ecstasy, and just a touch about Bill Teague, a dangerous billionaire whose fascination with true power means he thinks he's untouchable. The volume is all set-up, with a final issue that acts almost like an interlude that re-introduces another dangerous character from the Sandman before the main arc continues to unravel. I'm interested and invested, and looking forward to where Tynion takes us...
August 27, 2023
I had no idea how much I was missing the Sandman Universe. It's been a good 20 years since I dove head first into the deep mythos of dreaming and was awed by the sense of atmosphere and Gaiman's unique sense storytelling. No doubt it is a classic and massively influential to today's creators. Tynion gives Gaiman his flowers in a sincere forward and I applaud the creative team for capturing the essence that made the original series so compelling in the first place.
I have passed over all the reboot series so far since the 2017-present. I have an itch to dive back in to the original or at least check out the modern series'.
Highly recommended
I have passed over all the reboot series so far since the 2017-present. I have an itch to dive back in to the original or at least check out the modern series'.
Highly recommended
May 6, 2024
Pretty good stuff. As always, Tynion has even better writing than art, though both are high quality.
August 17, 2024
I only recently discovered that there’s a whole expanded Sandman universe. I was a bit skeptical because it’s hard to build upon perfection. That being said, Tynion has been at the top of his game lately.
Nightmare Country (Vol. 1) centers on the toothy-eyed serial killer and master of nightmares, The Corinthian. He discovers an art student that doesn’t dream but sees nightmares in her waking hours. She is also being hunted down by some new baddies: Mr. Agony, Mr. Ecstasy, and Lamia. Along the way we have cameos from characters from the original series: Lucien, Matthew, and, of course, Dream.
Overall, the story was better than I expected. The plot and the art are both nightmare fuel (that’s the point right?). The ending makes it clear that there’s much more to come.
Nightmare Country (Vol. 1) centers on the toothy-eyed serial killer and master of nightmares, The Corinthian. He discovers an art student that doesn’t dream but sees nightmares in her waking hours. She is also being hunted down by some new baddies: Mr. Agony, Mr. Ecstasy, and Lamia. Along the way we have cameos from characters from the original series: Lucien, Matthew, and, of course, Dream.
Overall, the story was better than I expected. The plot and the art are both nightmare fuel (that’s the point right?). The ending makes it clear that there’s much more to come.
May 28, 2024
I’ve been reading some Gaiman-adjacent graphic novels ever since finishing Dead Boy Detectives on Netflix, hoping to find something worthy of the author, but mostly it’s been just plain awful. And that’s easy enough for me to understand because we’re talking about searching for new material up to the standards of The Sandman here, the greatest graphic novel not just of the last 35 years but probably ever. (Sorry, Alan Moore. I like you, too. Really I do.) And it sure ain’t Toby Litt or Jill Thompson or Pornsak Pichetshote. (“Pornsak.” Now there’s an unfortunate name.)
But yesterday I made the fortunate discovery of James Tynion IV’s Nightmare Country, and boy oh boy does that do the trick. After all, Tynion just might be the best young talent we have comparable to Gaiman, and he seems to understand the mythos and tone of the Sandman universe far better than the three authors I mentioned previously . While it might not be as smart as The Sandman, Nightmare Country does an almost seamless job picking up the narrative threads and a number of the figures from that earlier work, telling a new story in a contemporary setting while placing it all in the comfortable context of that world Gaiman fans have been longing for. I really really really hope there is a second volume on the way because the abrupt ending to the first one has me feening for more.
But yesterday I made the fortunate discovery of James Tynion IV’s Nightmare Country, and boy oh boy does that do the trick. After all, Tynion just might be the best young talent we have comparable to Gaiman, and he seems to understand the mythos and tone of the Sandman universe far better than the three authors I mentioned previously . While it might not be as smart as The Sandman, Nightmare Country does an almost seamless job picking up the narrative threads and a number of the figures from that earlier work, telling a new story in a contemporary setting while placing it all in the comfortable context of that world Gaiman fans have been longing for. I really really really hope there is a second volume on the way because the abrupt ending to the first one has me feening for more.
September 21, 2023
3.75/5 Certainly one of the most graphic/goriest Sandman universe books.
October 15, 2023
"País de Pesadillas del Universo Sandman" es una obra maestra del cómic que captura la esencia inquietante y cautivadora del universo Sandman. James Tynion IV nos sumerge en un mundo de pesadillas con una narrativa excepcionalmente atrapante y entretenida. Los personajes y escenarios están hábilmente tejidos en esta historia, manteniendo al lector intrigado en cada página. Pero lo que realmente destaca son los trazos y dibujos de las viñetas. Cada ilustración es una obra de arte por derecho propio, contribuyendo en gran medida a la atmósfera oscura y onírica del cómic. En resumen, "País de Pesadillas" es una experiencia visual y narrativa imprescindible para los amantes de Sandman y los cómics en general.
April 22, 2023
I loved this. Disturbing characters, great moody artwork and the last issue with one of my favourite witches ever was a great way to close off the volume.
April 24, 2023
This was awesome and I loved seeing new characters added to the Sandman universe.
Seeing the Corinthian in an almost heroic role was interesting.
Definitely planning to read more!
Seeing the Corinthian in an almost heroic role was interesting.
Definitely planning to read more!
September 17, 2023
In his prologue, author Tynion IV praises Neil Gaiman and credits him for pretty much his whole career so you know he is anxious to write this book and get it right. Which he pretty much does.
But it started out a bit too weird for me with too many characters who are mysterious and connected to other unseen forces and I found it confusing. He certainly gets the gross and creepy aspect right which is important (and inevitable) if you’ve chosen to feature the Corinthian. Yet I found his human characters to lack Gaiman’s depth. I need to care about them more.
However, that could improve as the story continues and as this particular volume continued, I did get caught up in the story and read eagerly to see where it was going. The seemingly disparate characters do coalesce (or at least appear briefly all together) and then Dream appears (who Tynion does well) and it all becomes pretty Sandman-like.
At then end, I’m still confused and puzzled by mysterious unanswered questions. And the interludes are okay (and add background knowledge for those unfamiliar with the Sandman universe) but the final episode is tangential at best, but Gaiman took his time to weave all of his ideas together.
Even if I’m a little disappointed, it’s still fun to be back in this universe. I’ll read the next volume.
(I used the word “pretty” several times up there as a half-assed qualifier showing a certain amount of unsure wavering in my judgements. I guess my rating is the same being a 3+ or a 4- but I’m going generous. This also prompts me to add that the artwork and coloring is pretty — and gross and effective.)
But it started out a bit too weird for me with too many characters who are mysterious and connected to other unseen forces and I found it confusing. He certainly gets the gross and creepy aspect right which is important (and inevitable) if you’ve chosen to feature the Corinthian. Yet I found his human characters to lack Gaiman’s depth. I need to care about them more.
However, that could improve as the story continues and as this particular volume continued, I did get caught up in the story and read eagerly to see where it was going. The seemingly disparate characters do coalesce (or at least appear briefly all together) and then Dream appears (who Tynion does well) and it all becomes pretty Sandman-like.
At then end, I’m still confused and puzzled by mysterious unanswered questions. And the interludes are okay (and add background knowledge for those unfamiliar with the Sandman universe) but the final episode is tangential at best, but Gaiman took his time to weave all of his ideas together.
Even if I’m a little disappointed, it’s still fun to be back in this universe. I’ll read the next volume.
(I used the word “pretty” several times up there as a half-assed qualifier showing a certain amount of unsure wavering in my judgements. I guess my rating is the same being a 3+ or a 4- but I’m going generous. This also prompts me to add that the artwork and coloring is pretty — and gross and effective.)
January 11, 2024
AVISO: esta reseña contiene SPOILERS del universo Sandman. Tras el final de la trama de Sandman retornamos con el Corintio, una de las mayores pesadillas de la humanidad. Tras perder su primera vida a manos de Morfeo, el Corintio deberá descubrir qué sucede con una soñadora muy pecualiar.
Esta colección spin-off de Sandman parte de la premisa de que una joven es capaz de ver monstruos en la vida real y alguien ha mandado a 2 asesinos a matarla. Con una trama de intriga y misterio, nos vamos acercando a los poderes en la sombra que están ordenando esto, algo que afecta al nuevo Eterno y al Corintio.
La calidad visual es espectacular con paneles que mezclan lo sensual con la violencia pero más agresivo que el Sandman original. Aumentan el número de escenas sangrientas explícitas, con un enfoque adulto de las situaciones y las conversaciones.
Mantiene la costumbre de hilarnos pequeñas historias secundarias o terciarias para crear un trasfondo más complejo, con guiños a la primera vida de Corintio. Además nos ponen las portadas e ilustraciones de las ediciones grapa USA, siendo algunas espectaculares.
Una gran expansión del mundo Eternos que nos acerca a uno de sus personajes más carismáticos y crueles.
Colibrí.
Esta colección spin-off de Sandman parte de la premisa de que una joven es capaz de ver monstruos en la vida real y alguien ha mandado a 2 asesinos a matarla. Con una trama de intriga y misterio, nos vamos acercando a los poderes en la sombra que están ordenando esto, algo que afecta al nuevo Eterno y al Corintio.
La calidad visual es espectacular con paneles que mezclan lo sensual con la violencia pero más agresivo que el Sandman original. Aumentan el número de escenas sangrientas explícitas, con un enfoque adulto de las situaciones y las conversaciones.
Mantiene la costumbre de hilarnos pequeñas historias secundarias o terciarias para crear un trasfondo más complejo, con guiños a la primera vida de Corintio. Además nos ponen las portadas e ilustraciones de las ediciones grapa USA, siendo algunas espectaculares.
Una gran expansión del mundo Eternos que nos acerca a uno de sus personajes más carismáticos y crueles.
Colibrí.
August 23, 2023
Yeah so it seems like there might be a good story here, but its very samey to Gaiman's characters, world, and writing. Tynion clearly has a lot of admiration for Gaiman, but I think what would be better is something a bit new to these stories...In this first vol the story ends up being VERY familiar to those who have read Sandman - Theres dream stuff afoot which Dream knows nothing about and it turns out some people from other pantheons are involved and his sibling is trying to ruin his day again (presumably). The Corinthian of this book is recreated and less rebellious but he spends a lot of time ruminating on how much fun he had in his past life, only to have some conviction about how he doesnt want to do that again. For some reason. Dream shows up in a predictably badass scene, only to be eclipsed by a retelling of his role in the original Corinthians death.
Some of these problems are just the fault of the first vol in a series, so I wouldnt say this is irredeemable. It also does seem to have some potential as I think using Moroni might be clever. it depends on where they go with it. We'll just have to see!
The art ranges from ok to good.
Some of these problems are just the fault of the first vol in a series, so I wouldnt say this is irredeemable. It also does seem to have some potential as I think using Moroni might be clever. it depends on where they go with it. We'll just have to see!
The art ranges from ok to good.
February 12, 2024
Madison Flynn's dreams, of a "smiling man" with mouths for eyes, have haunted her waking world and inspired her artwork. But now there's another man with mouths for eyes, and Madison finds herself in the middle of a war between the Endless, The Corinthian, Mr. Agony, and Mr. Ecstasy.
I read the full run of The Sandman so long ago that I wasn't sure I'd be able to get back into it (even though I did read the The Annotated Sandman, Vol. 1 (issues 1-20) a year or so ago to prep for the TV series. So I wasn't as distant from the Sandman Universe as I thought. This series is centered around The Corinthian, who is one of my favorite characters - his appearance is just so unsettling, but also the Cereal Convention was one of my favorite story arcs and he was a main player in that. I'm a fan of James Tynion IV - his storytelling style is very different from Neil Gaiman's, but also easier to follow, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to volume 2!
I read the full run of The Sandman so long ago that I wasn't sure I'd be able to get back into it (even though I did read the The Annotated Sandman, Vol. 1 (issues 1-20) a year or so ago to prep for the TV series. So I wasn't as distant from the Sandman Universe as I thought. This series is centered around The Corinthian, who is one of my favorite characters - his appearance is just so unsettling, but also the Cereal Convention was one of my favorite story arcs and he was a main player in that. I'm a fan of James Tynion IV - his storytelling style is very different from Neil Gaiman's, but also easier to follow, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to volume 2!
August 11, 2023
It’s nice to be back in the Sandman universe, whenever I get the chance. This foray is more successful than not, but also pretty disjointed and plodding. A young artist is being hunted by weird killers who look like they’re out of an S&M shop (which feels a bit needlessly edgy and purposeless), and she stands out as a target because she paints the Corinthian and doesn’t dream. Simultaneously, said Corinthian is interested in her, and their paths collide.
This was very breadcrumb storytelling. In all these issues not much actually happened and the last issue was a complete aside after a new arc was initiated. The artwork also varies greatly, with many different people sliding into issues. It’s interesting but I’m not hot and heavy to pick up the next set, whenever that should release.
This was very breadcrumb storytelling. In all these issues not much actually happened and the last issue was a complete aside after a new arc was initiated. The artwork also varies greatly, with many different people sliding into issues. It’s interesting but I’m not hot and heavy to pick up the next set, whenever that should release.
August 20, 2024
The last pages could've been cut out entirely and the story would've been better for it. At least that cliffhanger would've worked better than that Thessaly ending. A lot of people won't like this because it seems like nothing much is happening, but I'd argue that nothing much should. The Corinthian's story is supposed to be understated and for the most part it works on that level. The exposition and backstories are interesting enough, Madison Flynn as a character also works. IMO the writer gets in his own way, trying to introduce all these subplots that he can't tie up or at least explore enough to create the intrigue necessary to peak reader interest.
All in all, a lot of promise. I'll be reading Vol 2 when I get my hands on it.
All in all, a lot of promise. I'll be reading Vol 2 when I get my hands on it.
February 2, 2024
DNF-ing. I rarely discontinue on reading a graphic novel, but sadly this volume isn't gripping me. Stopped at issue 4.
I thought it'd be more story varied as Gaiman's own brilliantly written Dream Country. Alas, this first 6 issues centers on the Corinthian, one of The Endless from Gaiman's Sandman. Not one of my faves of the Endless. Just my own preference.
Artwork, very great by Estherren, Delpeche, LLovet. Story by Tynion, fairly boring imo.
I thought it'd be more story varied as Gaiman's own brilliantly written Dream Country. Alas, this first 6 issues centers on the Corinthian, one of The Endless from Gaiman's Sandman. Not one of my faves of the Endless. Just my own preference.
Artwork, very great by Estherren, Delpeche, LLovet. Story by Tynion, fairly boring imo.
January 6, 2024
A bit too creepy for me, the Netflix show was more innocent to me. However, I love the Sandman universe and loved the graphics and font. Moreover, I was a bit dissapointed that imo nothing much was unfolded of the story, just side things.
June 19, 2024
Me: Yeah, the Corinthian's character design of having teeth for eyes is very iconic and creepy, I'm not sure anyone can top that.
James Tynion IV: But have you considered…having tongues for eyes?
Me: You're right, that's worse.
James Tynion IV: But have you considered…having tongues for eyes?
Me: You're right, that's worse.
October 1, 2024
This is really damn good. A much sharper and much stronger idea of what to do with the Corinthian than I would have expected, and some truly fantastic art. Mr. Ecstasy in particular is a real piece of work, in the best and worst ways.
April 22, 2025
i’m not much of a spinoff guy but this was good. although way too many characters. but maybe that’s bc … spinoff? the art was great tho. author had a very obvious love for the things i love abt gaiman and did that stuff really well (and although the mrs agony and ecstasy were a little on the nose i ate it up)
December 24, 2023
This was so good! I can’t wait to read more in this universe
February 18, 2024
Oh nooo cliffhanger
July 23, 2025
Bogowie jak ja nienawidzę Tesalii
December 23, 2025
This is an official fanfic of the original Sandman series. This stars the new-and-improved Corinthian and has more characters from the series that I hadn't realized I had missed. It has nowhere near the scope of the original series, but it's not supposed to. I'm finding myself very engaged by the story and only have the briefest shadow of Gaiman to spoil it.
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